Suspended Sheriff Will Lewis was in court Friday morning to discuss retaining an attorney for a trial possibly next spring.

Wally Fayssoux, Jr., one of the attorneys representing Lewis pro bono, has withdrawn counsel after a resolution couldn't be reached ahead of a trial anticipated to commence sometime after March 1, 2019.

Lewis said in court he will retain Rauch Wise, a Greenwood attorney, to represent him further.

Lewis was suspended in April after he was indicted on charges of misconduct in office and obstruction of justice. The charges stem from an investigation into sexual assault allegations made by Lewis' former assistant Savanah Nabors.

Nabors and Lewis settled a civil lawsuit related to the sexual assault claims in October.

The criminal investigation is being conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division. The SLED investigation is completed and was being finalized, a prosecutor said Friday.
One indictment related to the criminal case states that Lewis "willfully and dishonestly failed to properly and faithfully discharge his lawful duties" as sheriff "through a series of improper acts" between Jan. 12, 2017, through Feb. 13. The other indictment states that Lewis "purposely attempted to prevent, obstruct, impede or hinder the administration of justice" between April 25, 2017, and Feb. 13.

Both charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Lewis' wife accompanied him to court. He declined to speak with media after the hearing.

In April, Fayssoux, Jr., whose firm had represented Lewis along with Beattie Ashmore and Butch Bowers, said in a statement that Lewis "adamantly denies any wrongdoing or misconduct in office and certainly did not interfere with an investigation he personally requested."